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The group from University of Exeter's Falmouth campus were on a pub crawl in Penryn.

Later on social media they were urged to remove all photographs or video of the incriminating wording.

And after a backlash the students began wearing the tabards inside out.

The Exeter Uni students who attend the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) were out for a pub crawl event in Penryn wearing the tops that they are regularly given along with hard hats on courses including geology and mining, reports The Tabstudent news website.

The "I love Vegas concerts" were said to be mocking the murder of 58 people and injuring of nearly 500 by gunman Stephen Paddock, who sprayed the crowds at an outdoor concert with automatic gunfire from a hotel room.

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After facing a backlash in the streets of Falmouth and on the Penryn Campus Fitfinder Facebook page, they were later seen with the tabards turned inside out on Thursday night (October 5), Cornwall Live reports.

The organisers later tried to cover up their offensive behaviour with messages in an online group chat urging fellow revelers to delete and destroy any photographs they had published on social media of each other in the garb.

The first message says: "Whatever you do, do not wear your high vis from last night to your practical. I hope you enjoyed the evening but to stay safe do not wear anything from last night again."

The group chat message by students trying to cover up their offensive actions

A second message, from another society member says: "Right guys. Last night was great fun but it’s definitely going to receive some consequences. Please destroy any high-vis tops you have (you can make new ones next year). If you have any photos or videos, delete them NOW. This is for your best interest and us as a committee."

At least one student even subsequently attempted to defend their actions as "banter".

The students' offensive scribblings sparked outrage on Facebook.

One student wrote on the Penryn Campus Fitfinder page: "I am a CSM student studying engineering geology. I have lived in Cornwall all my life. Like the rest of you, I am utterly dismayed with the actions of last nights social.

"There is a small cohort of students who are ruining it for us all. It's an embarrassment for me to tell people I'm CSM.

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"Yet having grown up in Cornwall, knowing a lot about CSM traditions, old Cornish miners, and their associated mining towns history. 'I love rape' is not 'banter' or a part of Cornish culture. Those disgusting quotes do not represent CSM or anything Cornish for that matter.

"I and the other 80 per cent of CSM students who didn't attend were not a part of last nights antics. Please do not tarnish us all with the same brush. There are so many great characters, that like me are disgusted with last night.

"The PPE social does not represent the heritage of Cornish mining, the passing century's of Cornish miners would not be proud of those quotes. Welcome to the 21st century CSM, stop pissing people off, bring your traditions with you and behave or risk loosing them altogether!

"I will continue to be proud of CSM and its history, as my interpretation of the traditions and heritage clearly differs from those laughing about it last night.

"On behalf of the majority of CSM students. Rape and shooting kids isn't a joke. Apologies."

A University of Exeter spokesman told The Tab: "The University of Exeter and the Falmouth and Exeter Students Union (FXU) have a zero-tolerance policy towards racist, misogynist or similarly highly-offensive behaviour of any form. As soon as we were made aware of this incident we sought immediately to identify the students and organisers involved and demanded that all offensive material be removed.

An investigation was launched immediately and the consequences for anyone found to have breached our code of conduct will be determined by our disciplinary processes.

The students were later seen with their tabards inside out

"We take the welfare and wellbeing of all our students, and our relationship with the local community, very seriously and are extremely disappointed by these unacceptable actions displayed by a small number of students, and we apologise unreservedly for the offence caused."

A CSM student, who asked not to be named, apologised for the actions of those involved, saying: "We are aware that students on the CSM social last night had offensive comments written on hi-vis jackets. We apologise for any offence caused from this on what is usually a light hearted and fun traditional night for CSM students."